According to a report by Daily Post on Thursday November 12, 2026, Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois has described the club's decision to dismiss former manager Xabi Alonso as unfair, insisting that the Spanish coach paid the price for the team's disappointing results.

The Belgian international believes Alonso was not given enough time to establish himself at the Santiago Bernabeu, having managed just 34 official matches before Real Madrid decided to end his spell in charge.

Alonso's departure came in January following Real Madrid's 3–2 defeat against Barcelona in the Spanish Super Cup. The loss proved to be the final turning point for the club's hierarchy, who decided to part ways with the former Bayer Leverkusen manager.

Real Madrid subsequently appointed Alvaro Arbeloa as Alonso's replacement, while the dismissed coach later took over as manager of Premier League side Chelsea.

Speaking to Sky Sports ahead of Belgium's Nations League encounter against Turkey on Thursday, Courtois was asked about Alonso's departure and did not hide his disappointment with how the situation was handled.

The former Chelsea and Atletico Madrid goalkeeper described the decision as unfair, suggesting that managers are often made the first casualties when teams fail to achieve the expected results.

"It's not fair. I think that is always how it works in football: when results aren't good, the manager is the first to pay the price," Courtois said.

His comments highlight the difficult position managers find themselves in at some of Europe's biggest clubs, where expectations are extremely high and patience can quickly disappear when results begin to decline.

Alonso arrived at Real Madrid with a strong reputation after his impressive work at Bayer Leverkusen. His success in Germany had raised expectations that he could bring a new level of organisation and consistency to the Spanish giants.

However, his time in Madrid did not develop as expected. The pressure surrounding the team increased as disappointing performances and results created uncertainty about his future.

The defeat against Barcelona in the Spanish Super Cup eventually brought his spell to an end, despite having managed only 34 competitive matches.

Courtois's intervention is significant because he was part of the Real Madrid squad during Alonso's time at the club. His assessment provides an insight into how some players viewed the circumstances surrounding the manager's departure.

The goalkeeper's comments also raise questions about whether Alonso was given sufficient time to implement his footballing ideas and build the consistency required to compete for major trophies.

Although Courtois acknowledged that poor results usually determine a manager's future, his remarks suggest that he does not believe the responsibility for Real Madrid's difficulties should have rested entirely on Alonso.

Meanwhile, Alonso has moved on from his departure and is now managing Chelsea in the Premier League, giving him another opportunity to demonstrate his managerial qualities.